Interior Freedom

I have been reading a book Interior Freedom by Jacques Phillippe. It is the greatest book I have ever read to teach me how to detach - to really let go and let God. With the country so divided politically, culturally and families dividing as a consequence, it was impacting me and disturbing my own sense of peace. I hae learned how to be completely quiet when others around me engage in polotical discussions. Then I take these conversations to God and share them in our daily conversations. Today's Conversation: God, what is the best way to talk about differences that cause deep divisions within families? Well. Julett, I would think you have to establish rules for how to conduct a conversation about differences. As in debate rules. It has been effective in group discussions for a stick to be placed in middle of participants. First person picks up stick and speaks briefly on one point. Then returns the stick. Next person picks up stick and gives a brief response. Then replaces stick. And so on. No interruptions to any person. No one can speak except person with stick. Comments can have a time limit. And deliberate pauses between picking up of stick to give time to organize thoughts. Listen intently to one another, then organize your resoonse. Prayer to the Holy Spirit for guidance, peace and inspiration should start the conversation by a named arbiter. Arbiter picks up stick for time of silent meditation as needed. Comments should all be I statements. No you blaming statements. Thank you Lord for reminding me of this kind of peaceful conversation. You have given me an idea of how to move forward. Perhaps I could experiment and be an arbiter in family situations. I will pray about this and discern the possibilities - tyhe pros and cons about my role in. this.

'Spotlight' brings Globe's investigation of clergy sex abuse to film | National Catholic Reporter

'Spotlight' brings Globe's investigation of clergy sex abuse to film | National Catholic Reporter

Ash Wednesday - Crosses We Bear Some are straw, some iron Bestowed yet some are chosen Borne through grace of God

Theme for Lent 2014

My word for 2014 is Explore, so beneath my lenten practices this year, I want to use the daily prayer practice of Examen to sift through and become of aware of what brings me closer to God and increase those practices - and what leads me away from God and nibble away at eliminating those practices. What aries immediately to the latter is my habit of procrastination and the many niggling things I put off doing daily. Paperwork is my nemesis. I used to admire my husband - upon going through daily mail, he paid bills, immediately filed receipts he needed to keep for tax or other purposes and then trashed the remainder. I end up with sacks or boxes of "papers" I keep "just because." As I ponder on this, I wonder if these stacks of clutter are a reflexion of the inner clutter of who I am? And is it a way of hiding from what I need to clear internally? If there are too many internal distractions, it may keep me from addressing serious issues that I need to look at and discard. So maybe if I copy my husband's model of how to handle paperwork, it will be a good habit to get into with the outside clutter. And then apply it to the interior clutter in the same way - bite off a little each day.

Come Back To Me With All Your Heart

Living in the Now

My practice during this lenten season is to live in the now. This is not an easy task. Someone makes a comment that stirs up memories of the past that I am not so proud of and I get caught back up in regrets for mistakes. So rather than dwell on stinkin thinkin - I am practicing going immediately to prayerful conversation with God to help me remain in the present. After all I can do nothing about the past - have already sought forgiveness if sin was involved, so why revisit that pain? Nor am I able to do anything about future events - anxiety about the future is not something that usually bestirs me, so that is easier to control. If I ask myself the question "what can I do today about whatever pops up into my brain, it helps me make positive statements in the here and now, rather than dwell on the past or the future. Centering prayer in times of anxiety is another way to stay in the now especially if I happen to be around people that "push my buttons."